Bottle case



FIG-1 May 3, 1960 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 R. M. MITCHELL ETAL BOTTLE CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mu INVENTORS m ROBERT MORTON MITCHELL WESLEY F. JUNKER ALBERT H. TORONGO JR.

ATTORNEY May 3, 1960 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 R. M. MITCHELL ET L BOTTLE CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

FIGB

INVENTORS ROBERT MORTON MITCHELL WESLEY F. JUNKER ALBERT H. TORONGO JR.

ATTORNEY BOTTLE CASE Robert M. Mitchell, West Norwalk, Conn, Wesley F. Junker, Copiague, N.Y., and Albert H. Torongo, Jr., Newtown, Pa., assignors to National Brewing Qonspany, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryiand Application August 11, 1958, Serial No. 754,307

4 Claims. (Cl. 220- 4) One of the objects of our invention is to provide a neat, clean bottle case in which the ends and bottom or base are molded of plastic, preferably in one piece.

Another object of our invention is to provide a bottle case with removable side and top pieces whereby the contents may be attractively displayed by removing one or both of the side and top pieces.

Another object of our invention is to provide a bottle case basic section which will have long life and be adapted to receive various seasonal advertising matter on the inexpensive, disposable top and side pieces.

Another object of our invention is to provide a comparatively inexpensive, attractive, theftproof shipping and display case which will not be suitable for customers to use as their personal storage containers, because of the relatively short life of the side pieces and the holes in the bottom portion.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will appear from a reading of the following specification and claims, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction and process of manufacture hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be further understood that our invention is susceptible of embodiment in many and various forms, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and that the structural details or particular steps of the method herein set forth may be varied to suit particular purposes and still remain within the inventive concept.

Referring briefly to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bottle case with the top removed;

Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the container with a cross-section through a portion of the top;

Fig. 4 shows the removable side piece about to be inserted in the positioning ribs of the end;

Fig. 5 is a bottom elevation;

Fig. 6 illustrates the removable side and top piece;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the top and side piece in flat, blank or extended condition;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

Numeral 1 illustrates the base or bottom of the basic section formed with reinforcing and sliding ribs 2 and slots 23 on each side to receive side sections 16. Numerals 3 and 4 illustrate the ends having vertical reinforcements 5'. The ends meet with the base 1 in rounded corners, and are formed with hand holes 6 into which a reinforcing band, rod or Wire 7 fits.

The ends 3 and 4 are preferably tapered slightly in an outwardly direction so as to facilitate the nesting of one Fer-tented May 3, 1960 empty container upon another. In addition, end pieces 3 and 4 are provided with an offset upper portion 8 so.

that full containers may be nested.

In addition to the bottom and ends being formed as an integral one-piece unit, the partitions 9 are likewise so formed. The base 1 is provided with holes 10 at the bottom of each of the individual container, bottle or can sections so that the basic section comprising the base, ends and partitions may be put through a steam or hot water bath and washed easily.

The space between the bottle holders is open from the bottom as shown in Fig. 8, but is closed at the top portion which is on the same plane as the height of the partion 9. In other words, while the bottle sections 12 are partially open at the bottom, the space between the bottle sections are open from the bottom only to a distance the height of the partition members 9, at which point they are closed to provide a neat and strong case with the use of a minimum of material. Also, since the sides help to position the individual bottles or containers, the height of the partitions are tapered downwardly at the sides as shown at 24.

Ono each side of the ends 3 and 4 there are provided a set of double ribs 13 forming a slot 33 into which the removable side and top pieces 14 fit. As mentioned above, similar double ribs 23 (Figures 1 and 2) at the sides of the bottom, position the side pieces or side walls. Also at the central portion of the end pieces, starting from the upper edge, another set of vertical, double ribs 15, forming a slot, is provided into which the flap portion 18 of the removable side and top piece 14 fits.

The removable side and top piece 14 is provided with a side section 15, a top section 17, and a flap portion 18. Section 16 has a hole 20 to receive and position bend 21 or" band 7, similar to the bend 22 positioned in hand hole 6. In order to provide a reinforcing and also a finger hole, a portion 19 is cut out from sections 17 and 18 and secured, as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 shows the side section 16 being inserted between the positioning ribs 13 of the end piece 4.

The container is composed of only 4 parts, namely, the integral basic section, the two removable side pieces, and the reinforcing band or reinforcing rod.

While we prefer that our basic container be molded from high density or regular polyethylene or high impact strength styrene or polystyrene, it can be molded from any suitable plastic material. The removable side piece-s can be made from cardboard, thin sheet metal or an inexpensive wood veneer-paper laminate, such as sold on the market as Tekwood, Craveneer, but we prefer preferably a Mylar coated paper or other plastic coated paper which is comparatively inexpensive, and is very serviceable. Because the sides are inexpensive, they can be used and replaced periodically with seasonable printed advertisements, and tied in with Various radio and television baseball and other special promotional campaigns.

While the basic container will last indefinitely, the cardboard sides will, after a time, become worn and look tacky, and can be replaced. The service we have found from these containers is much higher than the life of comparable wood, metal or combination woodmetal containers. One of the chief advantages is that the case can be attractively displayed in the store by removing either one or both of the side pieces temporarily, and then easily replaced for transporting to the home. Because the containers do not have a permanent side piece, or even a temporary side piece alone, they are not desirable as a permanent container for the purchaser, and hence will be returned to the store.

The bottom of the base is corrugated so as to ride on a assembly lines better and to leave the assembly lines at designated points without creating friction between the base and the belt.

The cardboard and the reinforcing band provide a V sturdy and rigid containsand in addition, the offset rein-' forcing and finger hoie piece 19 further reinforce the top Hence, with the side section fitting into a slot in the base 7 and between the ribs on the e'nds,the top section resting therein forming a plurality of cells, opposed, upstanding end pieces on said base section, each of said end pieces having side receiving slots on the respective sides there of, two side sections having foldable top portions removably positioned in said slots, said end pieces being provided withhand holes at the upper midsection thereof, each of said side sections having reinforcing band receiving apertures at the upper, respective midsections thereof, and a removable, reinforcing band having opposed end bends for locking into said hand holes and.

opposed side bends for locking into said apertures whereby said end pieces, said side sections and said top portions are firmly but removably positioned with respect to each other.

2. A bottle case comprising the combination of: an integral, one piece base section having partition mem bers therein forming a plurality of holders, opposed, upstanding end pieces on said base section, each of said end pieces having side receiving slots on the respective sides thereof, two side sections having foldabie top'por tions removably positioned in said slots, said top portions terminating in right angular flap portions, each of said end pieces being provided with a hand hole and a vertically disposed slot at the upper midsection thereof, said flap portions adapted to be slidably retained in said last-named slots, each of said side sections having reinforcing band receiving apertures at the upper, respective midsections thereof, and a removable, reinforcing band having opposed end bends for locking into said hand holes and opposed side bends for locking into said apertures whereby said end pieces, said side sections and 7 said top portions are firmly but removably positioned with respect to each other.

3. A bottle case comprising the combination of: an integral, one piece base section having partition members therein forming a plurality of holders, opposed, up-

standing end pieces having side receiving slots on the respective sides thereof, said base section having parti tion members therein forming a plurality of bottle holders, said membersbeing cut away at the side portions thereof, the intermediate portions between said holders being covered, the area between said holders being open from the bottom to the height of said partition members, two side sections having foldable top portions removably positioned in said slots, said end pieces being pro vided with hand holes at the upper .midsection thereof,

each of said side sections having reinforcing band receiving apertures at the upper, respective midsections thereof, and a removable, reinforcing band having opposed end bends for locking into said hand holes and opposed side bends for locking into said apertures where- 'by said end pieces, said side sections and said top portions are firmly but removably positioned with respect to each other.

4. A bottle case comprising the combination .of: an integral, one piece base section having partition mein bers therein forming a plurality of holders, opposed, upstanding end pieces on said base section, each of said end pieces being provided with side receiving slots, said 'base section having partition members therein forming 25,

a plurality of bottle holders said members being cut away at the side portions thereof, the intermediate p r tions between said holders being covered, the area between said holdlers being open from the bottom to the height of said partition members, tWo side sections in said side receiving slots having foldable top' portions, said top portions terminating in right angular flap portions, each of said end pieces being provided with a hand hole and a vertically disposed slot at the upper midsection thereof, said flap portions adapted to be slidably retained in said last-named slots, each of said side .sections having reinforcing band receiving apertures .at the upper, respective midsections thereof, and a removable, reinforcing fband having opposed end bends for locking into said hand holes and opposed side bends for locking into said apertures whereby said end pieces, said side sections and said top portions are firmly but removably positioned with respect to each other. 7

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,894,179 Kubes Ian. 10, 1933 2,122,493 Reaume Julyf5, 1938v 2,535,493 Gerber Dec..- 16, 1950 2,675,156 Anderson Apr.- 13, 1954 2,746,668 Ringel May 22, 1956 2,758,750 Stroop Aug. 14, 1956 2,816,070 Buchanan Dec. 10, 1957' 2,862,640 Somavia Dec. 2, 1958 

